Technology for Restoring Soil-Processing Machine Working Bodies by Laser Cladding

Due to changes in the size and geometric shape of the working components of soil-cultivating machines used in abrasive environments, there is a need to develop technologies for restoring and strengthening their parts. This study aims to determine the optimal process parameters for laser cladding to form the ideal microstructure of wear-resistant coatings. Laser layers applied by cladding are examined for the resulting structure and hardness. A total of 121 samples are examined, and experiments are conducted using the following parameter combinations: laser power ranging from 2100 to 2900 W in 200-W increments; optical head movement speed (cladding speed) set at 5.11 mm/s with a step of 2 mm/s; and tungsten carbide content in the mixture of 45.55%, varied in 2% increments. The wear-resistant material consists of a powder blend including 43.53% iron base in the form of Sormite PG-S27 powder with particle sizes of 80 μmm, a 45.55% strengthening phase as tungsten carbide with particle sizes of 15 μmm, and 2a % nanopowder of aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃) with particle sizes of 70 nm. To form the required dendritic cellular structure of the wear-resistant coating of ledeburite type, the following parameters must be maintained: laser power ranging from 2500 to 2700 W, cladding speed of 7.9 mm/s, and tungsten carbide content of 49.53 vol % of the powder mixture. The optimal process parameters for obtaining coatings with enhanced hardness are as follows: cladding speed of 7 mm/s, tungsten carbide content in the powder mixture of 51%, and laser power of 2700 W.